17th October 2025

Explanation -
The Akash Missile System is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to protect high-value assets from aerial threats like fighter aircraft, UAVs, and cruise missiles. 

Development —
Indigenously developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Hyderabad. It involves no foreign collaboration. 

Features — 

• Can engage multiple targets simultaneously using Group or Autonomous modes. 

• Employs solid-fuel ramjet propulsion, reaching Mach 2.5–3.5 speeds. 

• Effective within a range of 4.5–25 km, at altitudes up to 20 km. 

• Incorporates Rajendra radar, C4I systems, and in-built countermeasure capabilities. 

Explanation -
The Military Combat Parachute System was indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Institutions involved — DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, and Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru. 

Key Features — 

• Successfully tested for combat drops from 32,000 feet. 

• The only Indian system currently deployable above 25,000 feet. 

• Integrated with NavIC for precision navigation. 

• Provides superior steering, descent control, and high-altitude deployment reliability. 

Significance —
It enhances autonomy in strategic operations, ensures safety against external interference, and reduces foreign dependency for high-altitude parachute technology. 

Explanation -
Established in Nagpur in 1958 as the Central Public Health Engineering Research Institute (CPHERI), the institution focused on water supply, sewage disposal, communicable diseases, and some aspects of industrial pollution. However, as environmental concerns expanded in the 1970s, reflecting global awareness of pollution and environmental degradation, it was renamed NEERI in 1974. 

Administrative Structure —
NEERI operates under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, and not under the Ministry of Environment.
It is a pioneer in environmental science and engineering, addressing pollution control, sustainability, and environmental innovation. 

Explanation -
The National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA), instituted in 1991 by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), recognise excellence, innovation, and leadership in energy efficiency and conservation. 

Objectives —
The awards honour exemplary efforts by industries, buildings, transport undertakings, and institutions in reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency.
Purpose —
They aim to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient practices and technologies. 

Award Categories for NECA 2025 —
Industries, Transport, Buildings, Institutions (State/SDA via EE Index), Energy-Efficient Appliances, Energy Efficiency Innovation, and a new Digital Content Creators & Influencers category.
This addition highlights the growing role of content creators in promoting energy conservation and sustainable living among the public. 

Explanation -
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a major connectivity initiative designed to strengthen trade and transport linkages between India, the Arabian Peninsula, and Europe. Conceived as part of the G20 Summit in New Delhi in 2023, IMEC aims to provide a seamless multimodal network combining maritime and railway infrastructure to enhance economic integration and reduce logistical costs. The corridor envisions a maritime route connecting Indian ports to those in the UAE, followed by a high-speed rail network stretching across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel to reach the Haifa Port, from where goods would be transported onward to European destinations. Apart from transportation, IMEC also plans to establish an electricity grid, hydrogen pipeline, and undersea digital connectivity, making it a comprehensive economic corridor integrating energy, technology, and trade systems. 

Historical and Geopolitical Background -
The geopolitics of 2023 was favourable for IMEC’s launch. The Abraham Accords had stabilised West Asia, and India’s ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia deepened, marked by robust trade, defence, and investment cooperation. The I2U2 grouping (India, Israel, UAE, US) boosted regional partnerships. Thus, IMEC was formally announced during the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi with backing from the US, EU, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. It was viewed as a counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and as a step toward resilient global supply chains.